ghggp
Moderator
I know this topic has been discussed on several threads and I found this information really helpful to diagnose seniors...
https://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2020/12/07/signs-of-canine-alzheimers.aspx
Symptoms of Canine Cognitive Decline
Veterinarians sometimes use the acronym DISHA to evaluate evidence of dementia in a senior dog:
• Disorientation — Is your dog walking aimlessly about the house, staring at the walls, or even losing her balance and falling? The key here is that even when she's in her normal, familiar environment, she gets disoriented, for example, she goes out her doggy door to the backyard, and then seems to forget how to get back in. There can also be a loss of spatial awareness.
• Interactions — Is your dog interacting differently with family members or other pets in the home? This can involve sudden or increasing irritability or even aggression in a dog who's been friendly and social all her life. It can also take the form of withdrawal from family members and the features of daily life she was once very interested in, such as a knock at the door or the appearance of her leash, meaning she's about to get a walk.
• Sleep — Is your dog no longer sleeping through the night, or is restless or wakes frequently? Like many older people, senior dogs can experience changes in sleep patterns or even a disruption in circadian rhythms. Your dog may begin pacing at night instead of falling into a deep slumber as he once did. Some dogs even reverse their schedules entirely, doing during the daytime what they used to do at night and vice versa.
• House soiling — Is your dog no longer alerting you when he needs to go out? Is he urinating or leaking urine indoors? When a dog seemingly "loses" his housetraining, there's no clearer evidence that something's amiss with either his health or his cognition.
• Activity level changes — Does your dog seem restless, agitated, or anxious? Does she have a decreased appetite? You may notice she's no longer coming to the door to greet you or loses focus and no longer responds as she once did to familiar stimuli.
Some dogs seem to forget how to get the food or water out of their bowls or forget where the bowls are located. There can also be periods of restlessness, or repetitive behaviors such as pacing in circles, head bobbing or leg shaking.
The article has tips on...
Suggestions to Help Your Older Dog Stay Mentally Sharp
https://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2020/12/07/signs-of-canine-alzheimers.aspx
Symptoms of Canine Cognitive Decline
Veterinarians sometimes use the acronym DISHA to evaluate evidence of dementia in a senior dog:
• Disorientation — Is your dog walking aimlessly about the house, staring at the walls, or even losing her balance and falling? The key here is that even when she's in her normal, familiar environment, she gets disoriented, for example, she goes out her doggy door to the backyard, and then seems to forget how to get back in. There can also be a loss of spatial awareness.
• Interactions — Is your dog interacting differently with family members or other pets in the home? This can involve sudden or increasing irritability or even aggression in a dog who's been friendly and social all her life. It can also take the form of withdrawal from family members and the features of daily life she was once very interested in, such as a knock at the door or the appearance of her leash, meaning she's about to get a walk.
• Sleep — Is your dog no longer sleeping through the night, or is restless or wakes frequently? Like many older people, senior dogs can experience changes in sleep patterns or even a disruption in circadian rhythms. Your dog may begin pacing at night instead of falling into a deep slumber as he once did. Some dogs even reverse their schedules entirely, doing during the daytime what they used to do at night and vice versa.
• House soiling — Is your dog no longer alerting you when he needs to go out? Is he urinating or leaking urine indoors? When a dog seemingly "loses" his housetraining, there's no clearer evidence that something's amiss with either his health or his cognition.
• Activity level changes — Does your dog seem restless, agitated, or anxious? Does she have a decreased appetite? You may notice she's no longer coming to the door to greet you or loses focus and no longer responds as she once did to familiar stimuli.
Some dogs seem to forget how to get the food or water out of their bowls or forget where the bowls are located. There can also be periods of restlessness, or repetitive behaviors such as pacing in circles, head bobbing or leg shaking.
The article has tips on...
Suggestions to Help Your Older Dog Stay Mentally Sharp
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